Racism confined Charleston's career to Negro league teams and to Latin American clubs; it denied him the salary major league players earned; it restricted his social life. Negro leaguers responded to racism in different ways, depending on their personalities, the particulars of their upbrings, and the circumstances of their adult lives. Satchel Paige, whose anger at segregation would sometimes explode in displays of fiery temper, used humor and a keen sense of how to earn money to ease his pain. Josh Gibson, though, became embittered and buried his misery in drugs and resentment.

Charleston expressed his anger with violence. He would punch people who called him racist names, and he was willing, even eager to take on groups of thugs who tried to intimidate him.

Stories of his career are marked by episodes in which he fought all comers.

This aspect of his career may seem...